Friday 12 February 2016

Frightening Friday


#1 here. After the cuteness of yesterday's post, we have a very serious one for today, and unexpectedly so. Over the last week or two, there had been a couple of episodes of Genji not showing his usual robust appetite, and even throwing up occasionally, with loose stools to boot.  Other than that, he was his usual active self and each time it happened, he would bounce back the next day, so I didn't worry too much.

Yesterday morning, he wasn't in or on my bed when I woke up and not around when I dished out morning snacks. He was curled up in a ball on the sofa and even though he purred as usual as soon as I approached him, he had no interest in eating. That was one time too many for me and I immediately called the vet and was given an 11am appointment.

When we got there, he was weighed and he was 400 grammes lighter than last July (3.45kg as opposed to 3.85kg). She examined him thoroughly and decided to do a full blood panel, as well as the standard battery of FIV/FeLV/FeCV tests. The results of the latter were back in 15 minutes and, to our horror, he showed positive for FeCV, Feline Coronavirus, which is what causes FIP. As I am sure most of you know, FIP is a death sentence. It is however usually seen in younger cats under the age of two or much older cats. Genji will be five next month and has always been exceptionally healthy. She decided to keep him until after getting the blood test results back (a couple of hours as she has the equipment on-site. I had a business appointment but was back there by 4:15pm.

The blood test results were textbook perfect except for amylase levels that were quite elevated, indicating pancreatitis. All of his symptoms are clear indications of an attack. What we are hoping at this stage, is that this is unrelated to the fact that he is FeCV positive and can be dealt with successfully as such. Dr. C has put Genji on a 48-hour drip to bring his amylase levels back down and hopefully restore his appetite. She will start to feed him tomorrow and see how he does. If all goes well, he should be able to come home on Saturday. There is still the possibility that the FeCV will flare up at some stage, but we can now hope for something better, for now anyway.

The poor mite is in a cage at Dr.C's. I took him his favourite beddie, but he is not used to being alone. I spent almost an hour cuddling with him this afternoon, but Dr. C advised me no to go tomorrow as every time I go, he will expect to be coming home with me. So please ramp up the purrs and the crossed paws for the little blue boy.

Here is a pic of the jailbird:


Holding paws always helps!




 Thank you so much to everyone who was so supportive on Facebook when I first posted the story yesterday.

60 comments:

  1. We are all purring as hard as we can for Genji to be well!
    We care about you Genji!
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ
    and mum Nancy

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  2. Poor Genji! I'm sending him all the purrs I can rev up - I hope to see him home this weekend with his appetite back. <3

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  3. poor baby, lots of purrs, hoping you feel better

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  4. We are so sorry to hear that Genji is not his normal cheeky self. Poor Genji will feel very sad being left on his own and and will feel so lonely as no siblings will be there to cuddle with him. We are thinking about you Genji.
    Love, Hannah, Lucy & Mum Sue x x x

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  5. OMG ... Virginia I'm SO sorry. I can't believe this - poor Genji. I've lost an Aby to this hideous crap (and Kukla was a ruddy boy) and it just tears you apart.

    Please know I'm thinking about you and will keep check on the news.

    Love from all of us,
    Selina & Laura

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  6. purrs to Genji and #1 and everyone of you....it is so scary when someone doesn't feel well

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  7. Oh my goodness, purrs and prayers from all of us too. That sure was a scary turn of events. Hugs and love to you Genji.

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  8. ohhhh nooooo, that is so scary! We're sending HUGE purrs of comfort and healing your way. We know that FeCV doesn't necessarily mean FIP (our Ryker had it as a kitten too),but the thought of FIP is so scary. We're crossing our paws that Genji's only issue (did we really just say ONLY?) is the pancreatitis. And that's awful enough.

    We're so very sorry, and we send you much love and support....

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  9. Sending love, hugs, prayers, and deep rumbly purrs for #1 and her sweet blue boy. Hope he is doing better tomorrow.

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  10. Oh poor Genji...I'm so sorry he has FeCV. I hope the treatment at the vet works well and he can come back home soon. And I hope you can get FeCV under control going forward. Sending purrs and hugs to you all.

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  11. HUGE purrs coming to you from us. - Alana and Crepes.

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  12. I am sad for poor Genji! It is very worrying for the humans when we are sick. It seems he is getting very good care. Sending gentle purrs and good thoughts that Genji will respond to treatment quickly xxx

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  13. We are all sad for Genji. Being alone at the vet's is no fun. Neither is being ill. We send lots of purrs and paw taps for him. And a hug for his concerned mom.

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  14. Purrs and purrayers and hugs from all of us to Genji! We hope that he gets to feeling better, and we hope that he doesn't get FIP!

    From all of us at Forty Paws and Maw

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  15. Ca va aller. Surtout maintenant qu'il est rentré.
    Au fait.. c'est pas plutôt 5 ans qu'il va avoir Genji ? De toutes les façons il est trop vieux (ou trop jeune) pour déclarer une PIF. Beaucoup de chats issus de collectivité sont positifs et ne développeront, fort heureusement, jamais cette p... de maladie.
    Plein de caresses pour Genji.
    Bonne soirée
    Nat à Chat

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  16. #1, we are all so sorry to hear this news. The pancreatitis is probably because he was feeling stressed. We hope all the wonderful care he will get from the vet and then from you will bring him back to good health. You know you and Genji will be in Mom's prayers and we will have our paws crossed tightly for Genji. Many hugs. and much love.

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning, and Mom Kathie

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  17. We haven't been blogging or visiting our friends much lately, but when we saw that Genji was sick and having to stay away from home for treatment, we had to take a moment and stop by to let you know we are thinking of you and hope that the vet care will get him back to eating and feeling better soon!

    You have enough experience with FIP and the no firm diagnosis from the test but that still doesn't stop one from worrying about it. Working at a cat vet and seeing so much pancreatitis in cats, we are hoping that just the few days with decreased appetite brought that on and can be easily resolved.

    It is true that cats that don't eat for 48 hours or even if they eat 50% less than normal for a few days longer than that can suffer from pancreatitis and triaditis due to that.

    We will keep purrs headed to Genji and watch your bloggie for more news.

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  18. We're sorry to hear sweet Genji isn't feeling well. We are purring mega purrs for him and hope he will be okay.

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  19. Oh oh oh! I am so very sorry about precious little loving Genji. He is filled with love for his #1 and his Tommy and others in the family. I am counting on that love and all of our love here in theVB to help bring him through. Hugs to you #1. You can use them. I know you are saddened and worried sick. We will pray for him and Genji will come through this.

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  20. I know my blog isn't one that you follow, but I heard the news from Ann and wanted to send my deepest, most heartfelt wishes that Genji will be on the road to recovery soon. Sending (((hugs)))) and positive wishes

    catchatwithcarenandcody

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  21. I'm praying for you Genji. I hope that the IV drip will return your amylase levels back to normal and that your appetite comes back. I'm so sorry to hear that you have the Feline Coronivirus, but maybe it will remain just that. It may not get any worse. I want you to know that I'm thinking about you and sending all my love and strength your way.

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  22. Genji, we are sending both you and #1 all our love and every good, healing thought in our heads! We know you are receiving the best possible care and we know having your favourite blankie from home helps to make you feel more settled.
    Now, let's take this one day at a time so we don't frighten ourselves with unnecessary worry, n'est-ce pas? Eat a little and rest and we will check back soon.

    love from all your friends,
    the critters in the cottage xo

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  23. Oh, Genji, what a beauty you are. I hope so much for your recovery and I'll be thinking of you daily.
    Much love,
    Loulou

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  24. Oh we are so so sorry about Gengi. We sure send lots of purts and prayers. We have to be positive and just know that he will feel better by tomorrow. It is so hard to leave them at the vets. We send lots of hugs and hope for the best.

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  25. Our hearts go out to you and Genji. Hope he feels better tomorrow and even better once he's back home. Purrs and prayers are being sent to you along with good thoughts. xxx

    Mom Julie and the kitties

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  26. I will be praying for you Genji and my 13 cats will be sending you healing purrs sweet boy.

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  27. Very upsetting news. We have you in our prayers, Genji , and ask God to make you well. We know you are a strong healthy boy and with prayers, God's help, your good vet and #1's love you will pull through this terrible ordeal. You know, you have always held a special place in our hearts dear boy. We love you Genji and need you to be strong so you can come home and snuggle with your #1 and loving family.
    Kisses and hugs from all of us.

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  28. Poor Genji! I am purring hard for you and mum is thinking good positive thoughts. We hope you will be feeling a lot better tomorrow and able to come home.

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  29. So very sorry that this baby isn't feeling well! Sending POTP and many good thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Thinking of you all.

    The Painter Pack

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  30. Oh Genji!! Non!! This can't possibly be happening to such a handsome boy!! And to have to be jailed because you aren't feeling well? Well, that is just unacceptable!! We are here purring our hearts out for you dear Genji because we really, really, really want you to be feeling ALL BETTER and in PERFECT HEALTH super-duper soon!! Da Dawgs are wagging their tails for you. C'mon Genji YOU GOTTA GET BETTER!!! YOU GOTTA!!!

    Purrs, headbutts, love, tail-waggings, and all we can think of is being sent your way for you and the whole gang.

    Elioth, Chouchou, Elwood and Ginger...your pals up north.

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  31. All of us are thinking positive thoughts! Please do get well and quickly. Sending you healing headbumps and purrs, and love from our mom.

    Mindy
    Moe
    Cookie
    Mike
    and mombean, Nina

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  32. Sending lots of purrs and prayers. It is very scary to stay at the vet's office without your mommy. Get well soon. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  33. We send Genji tons of purrs and hope he feels better soon ! Purrs

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  34. Sending healing purrs to Genji...hope he gets to feeling better soon!!

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  35. Genji; we understand ewe due knot noe uz, but we all wanted ta send de best oh fishes yur way; long with de blessings oh St Francis.....him haz plentee ta spare & heez willing two share......we troo lee hope yur abe bull two come home two morrow...♥♥

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  36. Sending major healing purrs to Genji and we hope he is feeling much much better.

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  37. Lots of hugs to you Genji and fell better soon!
    Your Texes furiends,
    Samantha and Mom

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  38. Dear #1 and Genji,
    We are purring very hard for a good outcome for Genji. Hoping that his youthfulness will help him through both things.
    Love,
    Simba and Mom

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  39. Your poor things...both of you! Huge purrs from the Horde and a big warm hug for you...I'd be a wreck. xoxo

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  40. We're so sorry to hear this diagnosis. We know you are worried about your precious Genji. We're sending our strongest purrs and good thoughts.

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  41. Oh my goodness we are so sad. We are sending love, hugs and prayers your way
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  42. I know he is back home now from FB. Hope you get all better soonest.

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  43. Oh Genji... we are so, so sorry to hear this. We have SO MANY MEGA PURRS that we're sending to you and your mum, and we're keeping you all in our thoughts <3

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  44. We're sending all of our very best purrs and softest of headbonks and even a small dose of gentle biscuits in hopes it helps you feel better, Genji. Our mom and dad are sending their good thoughts too!

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  45. I am so very sorry to hear this. Of course I'll be happy to purr for him. We want him all well again. M said she'd put him in her prayers too. We'll do whatever we can to help. Big Hugs to staff.

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  46. Oh, I am so sorry to read this. We will keep him in your prayers.

    It appears from Just Ducky's post that he is back home now. I am so glad. Sending you all hugs.

    Love,
    Lily

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  47. Purring and praying and hoping he'll be better soon! Hugs to all of you

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  48. We just saw this, poor Genji. We are ramping up our healing purrs to full strength and sending them to him. Hope he is home with you soon and eating normally.

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  49. We are sending big healing purrs for sweet Genji. We hope he feels better very soon.

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  50. We are so sorry to hear this! Keeping sweet Genji in our purrs.

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  51. We our sending our strongest Purrs fur Genji!
    This is really hard mewz to find the Coronavirus.
    We love you Genji!
    Stay strong!

    Purrz,
    Katie Kat.

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  52. Poor Genji! and poor you, too. We're sending hugs, and healing purrs and prayers your way...

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  53. we cats from the cozy cottage are sad that your beautiful boy is in prison at the doctors....I know how hard it can be to miss him. love and purrrs for a complete recovery from all of us...we care so much.
    Karla

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  54. The whole family is sending purrs and prayers a plenty to sweet Genji. Get well soon little friend as we want you up and having fun and cuddles.
    Timmy, Dad and Family

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  55. Genji, are you any better my love?

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  56. Sending you blessings for Genji's recovery and hope he will manage to stay with his devoting family for still a while to come. He's looking so sweet and those eyes beg for being taken by his human parents. It is rough.
    Hugs from a cat-mommy of six,
    Mariette

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  57. Sending our bst love and wishes, a sick cat is a big stress and worry, we al know. Remember you have a lot of buddies out here cheering Genji on (and YOU TOO).

    Get well SOON Genji. We want you Well * hugs *

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  58. Sending purrs and crossing our paws for Genji!
    CJ and Mia

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  59. Good luck to Genji, and may whatever can be done for him, be done. He is in the best of care but even so, the worrying doesn't stop.

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